3 PM:President Obama is expected to land at nearby Boeing Field around 3:15 pm, according to regional media; if you recall, the Boeing Field advisory linked here Monday opened the window at 3 pm. There’s widespread confirmation today that he’ll be headed to two Democratic Party fundraisers. First one’s in Madrona, which means I-5 traffic stopdowns (including exits from the West Seattle Bridge to I-5); second one is in Hunts Point – The Seattle Times (WSB partner) even published the invitation. Then he is expected to fly out by about 7:30. We’ll add updates here.\

His second event, dinner in Hunts Point, is scheduled to start at 5 pm, so we’ll update when we hear that move is on. His return to Boeing Field is likely ~7-ish.

5:04 PM UPDATE: That next motorcade move is reportedly about to start – Madrona to Hunts Point.

5:39 PM UPDATE: Apparently the preparedness starts way in advance. TV people on the ground are tweeting that the trip between locations is under way *now*. (Added: He is reported to have arrived in HP around 5:50 pm. Next leg of the motorcade will be back to Boeing Field in an hour or so.)

7:11 PM UPDATE: Per regional media, the motorcade is either on the move again or about to be. (Added: Now departing:)

Wow, it only took two posts for the low information voters to pop up. Don’t know whether to laugh or yawn. Perhaps Fox didn’t cover it, but every president does fund raisers and takes vacations. Republicans, Democrats, doesn’t matter, though the R’s are ahead in the vacation days.

Easy, Kit Cudahy. I don’t agree with Old Timer’s or Ray’s rhetoric, but I understand the underpinnings of their frustration. Calling their remarks pathetic and embarrassing is uncalled for.
I dislike that our President has the time for the folks that can cough up $25k to see him, but not for those who don’t? The well-to-do get his time and attention and everyone else gets bad traffic (and before you vilify me for being a fox news proponent– I like Obama, voted for him and watch the Daily Show instead of the news).

What does it say about the basic level of civility in our culture and political discourse when we refer to our president as “O’bozo”? Have some respect for the office if not the man. As President Obama regularly says, we can disagree without being disagreeable.

The idea that fundraising is somehow specific to a political party is pretty entertaining. Either way I know better than to blindly trust any politician from any party (even the one I lean towards). That said fingers crossed the rest of the evening commute goes smoothly. Don’t fail me now, Metro! :)

All of his promises (Gitmo, pullout in the Middle East, transparency, NSA spying, IRS spying, etc). He has not lived up to the cast majority of his promises. And do not blame the Republicans. He owned both houses and still accomplished nothing other than force Obamacare on the country, with its wondrous results.

He makes time for fundraisers, and parties in the White House, but spend so little actually doing his job; instead he presides via proxy and sound bites.

I don’t feel anything will change no master what party or person is in power until we lose the two-party system that is so beholden to corporations (as long as those corporations continue to value their bottom line above human beings).

All these people complaining about the Presidents’ holiday and the cost to the taxpayer – you do realize that he has no option for the security? He does deserve some time off at some point. Why aren’t you bitching about the endless cost of the Benghazi hearings?! Please grow a brain and learn some civics.

Old Timer and Ray — I agree with you. O is just a figure head not a president. Figure heads are excellent mouthpieces for fundraising and community organizing — get my drift. He has shown zero leadership in the USA/Mexico border crisis, VA crisis, foreign policy crisis and on and on.

As an outsider, this comment thread really epitomizes the typical Seattle elitist complex. I see multiple comments referring to anyone critical of Obama as “low info voters”. Really? How old are we? Because someone disagrees with your opinion of our current leadership they are dumber than you keepers of all important information? Come on, truly pathetic. I’m embarrassed to be surrounded by you.

i’m very grateful for the details re when/where the motorcade was on the move. The original time I was to depart home for the airport (and my route) would’ve put me smack in the middle of the mess. Avoided all of it. Thanks!

You do know that Ronald Reagan lamented in his memoir (and was criticized in the press) that he had to cut short his (25 day) vacation at his California ranch when the Korean airliner was shot down by a Soviet fighter jet in 1983. In fact, he didn’t address the nation until 4 days after the tragedy occurred.

every fund raising visit by Obama and Biden cost tend of thousands in overtime cost for the police. yet Seattle refuses to be reimbursed by the Democratic party……yet Seattle clam ins they have no money for basic programs. If you are broke and someone owes you money wouldn’t you collect on a debt?

Yes, I will say low info commenters. This county is ran by Corporations … If you do not know this, you have been fed low information. Grow your brains on real information… Loop holes held in place by congress is a good place to start your research… Wake up, know it alls!

@joel…as a point…the person in Medina who is hosting will have to pay the $30,000 or so for extrsapolice, etc. not you, not me, not any other tax payer…just that homeowner, who is Jim Senegal , ex-CEO of Costco. So get over what it’s costing taxpayers for that. It’s not.

Datapoint on that, his first stop of the night was Madrona, which is in Seattle. Then he went to Hunts Point. Medina provides police for Hunts Point, according to KING 5, and that’s why Medina is billing Jim Sinegal.

Jan…..not quite true there……there is cost for every agency involved. maybe you did not see the hundreds of police blocking every exit and providing an escort? most of those cops are on overtime working extra for this event. wanna guess the OT rate for cops? these are costs by county, city and state resources. each place can bill back the party for the extra costs. the city of seattle chooses to not bill back. so eastide, westside, white center or wherever this event was there was cost to Seattle…..

Ray, you are right on…
As for all your detractors, they love keeping their heads buried in the sand and clinging to that old played out mantra that if you think the man is a failure then you must watch Fox News…
They are the left’s version Rush-heads and their opinions are simply popular bullet points they cling to from 6 year ago…

Since 2008, the GOP strategy has been fill Congress with obstructionists and then to promote the illusion that the administration is disconnected from the people.

The fact that people still fall for this theater six years later is astounding.

Also, keep in mind that the King County GOP has an active, ongoing misinformation campaign to flood emails, social media, and message boards such as this, The Seattle Times, /r/Reddit, etc. Pot-stirring and sowing discontentment is far easier than offering thoughtful solutions and addressing real issues.

Comparing Obama to Ronald Reagan
A joke
So many more pressing things he need do aside from schmoozing with the elite
Timing is off
At least he did cancel his jimmy kimmel interview this week to deal with some issues

Actually, it was a stroke of luck that the President was in town when the Wildfires were going on. WA Governor was able to discuss and ask for Federal Assistance in a more direct manner for those residents affected. This trip had been in the works for many weeks. For those who think the current President is not working hard enough for them I refer you to recent articles which confirm this administration has taken substantially less time on “vacation” then his predecessor, by a 3:1 margin.

For those who think the current President is not working hard enough for them I refer you to recent articles which confirm this administration has taken substantially less time on “vacation” then his predecessor, by a 3:1 margin.

Smitty: You are correct Obama is no Reagan and for that we are thankful and all better off especially the middle class.

Secondly, it is a shame and sad fact that politicians must spend time raising money. It has been going on a long time but has been exacerbated by Citizen’s United whereby the free flow of money into campaigns by donors can even be hidden from the Public (us) and whereby foreign nations can secretly pour money into our elections. Get the money out of politics, which will never happen, and fund raisers and political “payback” would be a thing of the past in political campaigns.

We can have one idiot after another and still have a zoo in D.C. untill we clean house in congress and the house of reprobates we will have more of the same. when the leftovers get voted out of office they go into Lobby work. so nothing will change..WE NEED TWO TERMS AND THE THIRD TERM -JAIL TERM. for all of these stickey finger bums… they and their television buddys are getting rich off the taxpayers and we the taxpayers are low man on the food list. they win -we loose.reguardless who is in office…….

I’m generally an Obama supporter (voted for him) BUT I do feel its a misuse of Presidental power and Federal & Local resources to shut down large swaths of I-5 so the President can come fundrais

This trip didn’t benefit the taxpayers in any way and at the very least he could’ve planned it so it wasn’t so burdensome to commuters.

If we could just get Congress to pass campaign finance reform all the fundraising insanity (of which both sides continue to feed the fire) could fade away….alas my Congresswomen & Representatives have been frustratingly unresponsive on this issue when I contact them about it :-/

Wish I could have my votes back. As a new voter in 2008, I’ve learned a significant lesson.
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Re-sign the Patriot Act? Yep. Close Gitmo? No. Still in Afghanistan? Yep. $22 Trillion in debt in 2016 when he leaves office? Yep.
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Both parties are slimy. Obama flies in on our dime, and only visits the richest Americans in Madrona and Medina. Shameful. Shame on any partisan who’s still defending this indefensible mockery of what the US once was (miws).